The first Cedar Eco Spa clinic is set to open in the centre of Moscow within an existing building in late March 2015. The Cedar Eco Spa is a flexible spa concept founded and directed by Natalia Malysheva to develop all-natural wellness facilities from the ground up – including the construction of wellness cottages, linens, skincare products and cuisine using only natural components.

Speaking exclusively to Spa Opportunities, Malysheva said: “The spa will measure 250sq m (2,691sq ft) and will have nine treatment rooms: three of which can be united to form one large space.

“While there are no thermal facilities as such, there is a four-person Siberian bochka within the facility. This is a traditional heated wooden bench chamber guests can sit in, but their heads are outside the chamber, above the heat.

Although there are other bespoke Eco Spas located within hotels, this will be first standalone Cedar Eco Spa.

“Eco Spa is formed of a number of collaborators with varying expertise so that we can make everything ourselves naturally,” added Malysheva. “This particular project is costing US$300,000 (€264,500, £200,000), which is quite cheap considering we construct everything ourselves including the natural stone floors, wool fabrics and cosmetic products used in treatments.”

“This is the first time that all of our specialist products will be grouped together in a standalone clinic,” said Malysheva. “Hotels pick and choose which features they want in their Eco Spas, whether it’s the cedar wood beds and cosmetics and linens or not.”

“I am planning to roll out the Eco Spa concept,” said Malysheva. “I found Spameeting Middle East in Abu Dhabi in December useful to secure business relationships. Right now we do everything at the Eco Spas that exist, including operating them, however this could change dependent on clients’ needs.”

A recent SWOT analysis of the Russian spa industry was conducted in the Q4 2014 edition of Spa Business.